Adjustable shoe-tree



J. S. HANSEN ADJUSTABLE SHOE TREE July 3, 1923.

Filed April 11. 1922 fiiwwaa 05" Patented July 3, 1923.

Ui llTE JOHN S. HANSEN, OF EROCKTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ADJUSTABLE SHOE-TREE Application filed April 11,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN l'lANsnN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Brockton, in the county of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Adjustable Shoe-Trees, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

My present invention is a novel, improved and simple form of shoe tree with a capacity for quick and eflicient adjustment, as well as simple construction, and eflicient operation.

In the manufacture of shoe trees it is most desirable and important to provide means which will enable an economical construction to be employed and which shall also provide ashoe tree which can be made adjustable to fit a large number of sizes of shoes. My present invention is directed particular to a shoe tree for such purpose, and also combines with the capacity for adjustability an eflicient handle or holder which preferably constitutes the locking device to retain the parts in adj usted position and also permits the tree to be readily flexed for removability from the shoe as well as extending the parts after the tree is applied to the shoe.

Referring to the drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of my present invention,

Fig. 1 shows my improved shoe tree in extended position when applied to a shoe;

Fig. 2 illustrates the shoe tree in flexed position and ready for removal from or when being inserted in a shoe; and

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, my shoe tree consists in a forepart 1, preferably wood, but which may be of fiber or any other suitable material and of appropriate contour to fit in the forepart of the shoe, a heel part 2. preferably also of wood and of suitable contour to fit against the heel or counter portion of the shoe. In the forepart l I saw or form a slot indicated in dotted lines at 3 of suitable width to receive the end of a plate 4 which is fitted therein and pivotally secured by a pin 5. This plate 4: has a slot midway of its length, the lower portion 5 being recessed at a plurality of points, as

1922. Serial No. 551,491

indicated at 6, 6. These recesses are preferably half round and of suitable diameter to receive snugly the diameter of wire of the member 10 which fits through the slot 7 and into a predetermined one of said recesses 6. This member 10 is preferably ll-shaped, spanning the plat a as above explained and extending backwardly into the holder portion 2, where the ends of the member 10 are retained in spaced position, thus holding the heel portion 2 relatively rigidly.

The member 10 may be freely slid along the slot 7 and quickly fitted into any one of the recesses 6 which thus constitute a pivot for the member 10 and plate 4 to be swung relatively upon. This has the effect of shortening or lengthening the spacing between the forepart fl and heel part 2 as will be readily appreciated, and thus automatically adjusts the shoe tree for different lengths of shoes.

order to hold the member 10 firmly and yet with a free swinging action in any of the recesses 6 to which the member 10 has been adjusted, I provide a combined locking and handle member 12. This constitutes a plate of sufhcient length to span all the recesses 6 and yet to be freely moved to the forward part of the slot 7 and thereby open all the recesses 6 to permit the member 10 to b fitted into any predetermined one of said recesses to adjust the tree to length of shoe as desired. This member 12 I preferably form with an upturned flange 13 adapted to extend through the slot 7 and on the opposite side of the plate l, thus forming a slide with engaging surfaces on each side of the top part of the plate l. Preferably also I turn over the top portion forming thehandle 15 to facilitate movement of the plate along the slot 7 as well as lifting th plate and thus shortening the tree for removal or insertion in the shoe, as well, also, as to pro vide a means for forcing the toggle members l0 and l downwardly when extending the tree in the shoe.

I prefer to fit a small spring 16 between the inner surface of the member 12 and the under part of the plate l as clearly shown in Fig. 3 and as illustrated in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2. This prevents any looseness, automatically takes up for wear and further holds the member 12 pressed downwardly against that portion of the U-shaped member 10 Which is in the recess 6, thereby preventing displacement of same.

The operation of the shoe tree will be readily understood from the drawings and th foregoing description. Sliding the member 12 along the slot 7 permits the user to it the member 10 in any recess and thus adjust the tree for a large range of shoes in length, which adjustment is quickly and instantly made, and is thereupon automatically locked in position by moving the memher 12 backwardly into normal position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The shoe tree is then tier-(ed or the toggle broken and put into the shoe, whereupon a slight pressure on the handle 15 lengthens the members and forces th same into extended position as shown in Fig. l. I prefer to form the member 12 of sufiicient Width so as to constitute a bearing or stop as indicated at 18 upon the legs of the member 10, thus keeping the member 10 and plate e in alinement when the tree is in extended position.

lily invention is further described and defined in the form of a claim as follows:

A shoe tree of the kind described, having a liorepart, a heel part, a member pivotally secured to one part, a second member rigidly secured to the other part, one of said members having a slot therein with a plurality of recesses to receive the other part, means permitting adjustment of said parts for pivotal connection on any one of said recesses. and a movable handle adapted to traverse said slot and hold the members in adjusted position, in combination With yielding means to hold said handle in the position to which it is moved.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

JOHN S. HANSEN. 

